OR individual forms:

Application Process and Procedures for BSDH (Entry-Level)

Please Note:The Dental Hygiene Program at Indiana University South Bend will participate in the ADEA Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service, known as DHCAS, beginning in August 2013. Applicants applying to the entry-level or degree completion Dental Hygiene program will apply online using the DHCAS application in addition to the materials needed at each link (links listed to the left and details below). To learn more about the DHCAS application process, visitwww.adea.org.

To be considered for admission into the Dental Hygiene Program, an applicant must:

Submit an application with supporting documents by March 1 including the application through ADEA/DHCAS. Applications received after this date may be considered only after applications received by the deadline have been reviewed and processed.

Be able to complete all prerequisite courses by July 1. Preference will be given to students who have completed all course work by the end of spring semester.

Submit a typed 12-font, double spaced, 300 word essay answering the question: "What does becoming a dental hygienist mean to me?" This should be authored by the applicant without any outside assistance.

Completion of Dental Hygiene Observations (4 hours with two different dental hygienists in at least two different practice settings). One appointment in the hygiene clinic can count as an observation, but one more observation must be done (2nd office). The office should document your name, how many hours you were observing, the date, their name and signature.

Selection Criteria

Students are selected for admission based on the strength of their overall GPA, prerequisite GPA, science GPA, completion of each prerequisite course with a grade of C or better, and strength of their personal statement. Preferences will be given to applicants with a strong science GPA. Dental Hygiene is a science based field and relies heavily on prior knowledge obtained in the prerequisite courses.

Acceptance Information

Only applicants who meet the application deadline with a completed application will be considered for the incoming class. Full acceptance is given to students who have met all program requirements, have completed all prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester of the year they are applying, and are a top candidate (high GPA). Students are given alternate acceptance status if they are of high quality, but have not fulfilled all the requirements to recieve full acceptance. Alternates will be notified of acceptance if applicants who recieve full acceptance decline their position. Applicants who do not meet the admission criteria will be declined.

Acceptance Notifcation

Applicants who meet the March 1st deadline will be notified of their admissions status after spring semester grades are received. It is the applicants responsibility to send the spring semester grades to the department. To hold a place in the class, applicants must turn in the confirmation letter within 10 days of receipt. Alternates will be accepted after June 1st and until the class is filled.

Transcripts

All IU students may submit their transcripts from Onestart (unofficial). All Non-IU students must submit an official transcript. It is the student's responsibility to submit the transcripts to the Office of Admissions and the Department of Dental Hygiene.

Registration

Students must complete all required prerequisite course work before they are eligibel to enroll in the Dental Hygiene classes.

Re-application

Students who have not been accepted in to the program can reapply after November 1st. A new application and curriculum information sheet must be submitted. An updated transcript is necessary if additional courses have been completed. Observation hours are good for one year. Applications are kept on file for one year.